ASU’s Graham on winning streak: ‘We’ve not done anything’

Arizona State is on its first four-game winning streak since 2007, when they started the season 8-0.

The No. 19 Sun Devils’ next three games won’t be easy, however, highlighted by a trip to UCLA which will likely determine who represents the Pac-12 in the conference championship game. In order for ASU to reach its fourth game, head coach Todd Graham said the players can’t rest on their laurels.

“Because you have a tendency, when you’re experiencing success, everyone’s patting you on the back and you think you’ve done it,” Graham said at his Monday press conference. “We’ve not done anything. Win the next four games, then we’ve done something.”

Graham also reiterated his teaching philosophy, and added that for this final stretch, preparation will be crucial.

“You have to be improving every day,” Graham said. “And some days we’ve just improved by that much, but I think we’ve improved every day and gotten better.”

Graham believes his team is hitting its stride right now, seeing as it took down Washington in resounding fashion and overcame road woes to win at Washington State and Utah. He noted that the Sun Devils have to keep the momentum going and work even harder to have continued success.

“Our meetings have to be different,” Graham added. “Our practices have to be different. I’m talking about better than what we’ve done.”

One issue Graham addressed was maintaining discipline, pointing to complaining to officials about penalty calls and reacting emotionally, two things he doesn’t like to see in his program. Arizona State ranks sixth nationally in penalties committed per game, and Graham is intent on keeping the team near the best in that category.